Vouchers Aren’t the Answer to Solving America’s Education Problems, Says Author of ‘Reinventing America’s Schools’
According to author David Osborne, the school choice initiatives promoted by the Trump administration will only lead to a reduction in equality and equal opportunity. Osborne argues against the idea of turning the entire education system into a marketplace, comparing it to the real estate or automobile markets.
President Trump’s budget proposal for 2018 aims to cut the funding for the US Department of Education by $9 billion, but it includes a $250 million pilot program for school vouchers. This program would allow families to use public funds to send their children to private or religious schools.
Osborne, the author of "Reinventing America’s Schools: Creating a 21st Century Education System," expressed his concerns about the lack of equal opportunity and equality in society. He believes that the education system is already unequal, and implementing these school choice measures would worsen the situation. Furthermore, private schools are not accountable for students’ learning outcomes, and there are limited mechanisms for closing underperforming private schools.
In a conversation with Michelle Rhee, Warren Buffett even suggested banning private schools altogether as a solution to the problems in public education. However, Osborne acknowledges that this is not a feasible solution in America.
Superintendent Bill Hite emphasized the importance of focusing on the quality of education, regardless of whether it is provided by charter, private, religious, or traditional public schools. He also highlighted the need to prioritize the education of students who are learning English or have special needs.
Osborne suggests that the closest America could get to an ideal education system is one that implements weighted student funding. This model would allocate resources based on grade level and students’ specific needs, such as learning disabilities or language barriers. Osborne believes that this system would offer a balance of choice, competition, and decentralization.
As cities explore these 21st century education models, Divine believes that it is up to the individuals within those communities to take the lead.
The occasion marked the second destination of a tour that encompassed 24 cities, dedicated to promoting Osborne’s book, with partial sponsorship from .
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